Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah Fast Facts

How big is Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah covers a total area of 197,411 acres or 308 square miles.

How many people visit Shenandoah National Park?

1,592,312 people visited Shenandoah in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at Shenandoah Visitation Stats.

When was Shenandoah National Park created?

Shenandoah was made a national park on May 22, 1926.

What are the highest and lowest elevations in Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah’s lowest point is 530 feet at an unnamed stream. The highest point in Shenandoah is 4,049 feet at Hawksbill Peak.

What time zone is Shenandoah National Park located in?

Shenandoah is in the Eastern Time Zone.

How much does it cost to enter Shenandoah National Park?

$30 per private vehicle per week.

Five Random Facts About Shenandoah

one On May 22, 1926 Congress authorized the creation of the park through land acquisitions. On December 27, 1935 the park was officially established and the Civilian Conservation Corps got to work on trails and roads.

two The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north to south through Shenandoah National Park. At its southern end, it meets up with the 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway, which ends in North Carolina at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

three Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trail, including a 101 mile section of the famous Appalachian Trail.

four The first Civilian Conservation Corps camps in a national park were in Shenandoah, the first one being in the Skyland area in 1933. The work they did can still be seen today all over the park.

five Over 1,300 species of vascular plants are found in the park, though fewer than 100 of these are trees and shrubs. The dominant forest type is oak-hickory, although cove hardwood and spruce-fir are also found.

Where is Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah National Park is located in the state of Virginia. This long, skinny park generally follows the Appalachian Trail for over 100 miles from north to south. The main gateway towns to the park are Front Royal in the north, Luray in the central, and Waynesboro in the south. The proximity of the entire Washington DC area puts Shenandoah within day trip range of a huge number of people. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Shenandoah.